Offsetting a tandem drag disc

   / Offsetting a tandem drag disc #1  

flusher

Super Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2005
Messages
7,538
Location
Sacramento
Tractor
Getting old. Sold the ranch. Sold the tractors. Moved back to the city.
I have a line on a tandem drag disc that measures about 6-ft wide.
The disc gangs are in the conventional X-arrangement.
The rear wheel track on my MF-135 measures 6'-10".
I would like to adjust the hitch to offset the disc about 12-18" so one of the wheel tracks is covered as I drag the disc around my 7 acres.

Anyone have pictures showing how the hitch is adjusted for this arrangement?
 
   / Offsetting a tandem drag disc #2  
flusher said:
I have a line on a tandem drag disc that measures about 6-ft wide.
The disc gangs are in the conventional X-arrangement.
The rear wheel track on my MF-135 measures 6'-10".
I would like to adjust the hitch to offset the disc about 12-18" so one of the wheel tracks is covered as I drag the disc around my 7 acres.

Anyone have pictures showing how the hitch is adjusted for this arrangement?

Does your 135 have an O.E.M drawbar? It will swing to one side or the other. That may give you enough "offset". Another option might be to use a 7-hole (or in some cases, 9-hole) drawbar that uses 3-point lower links. Use a hole to extreme ends to offset hitch point.
 
   / Offsetting a tandem drag disc
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Farmwithjunk said:
Does your 135 have an O.E.M drawbar? It will swing to one side or the other. That may give you enough "offset". Another option might be to use a 7-hole (or in some cases, 9-hole) drawbar that uses 3-point lower links. Use a hole to extreme ends to offset hitch point.

It has the OEM drawbar bracket, but the drawbar itself is missing. I intend to replace it soon.

I saw those 3pt drawbars at the MF dealer in Chico. I plan to get one of those also. My concern is the unbalanced loads on the lower arms of the 3pt if I offset the drag disc hitch.

My initial idea was to use the swinging drawbar and some type of L-shaped adapter that would give me the offset I need. I would use a couple of bolts on the drawbar bracket to limit the amount of swing.
 
   / Offsetting a tandem drag disc #4  
flusher said:
It has the OEM drawbar bracket, but the drawbar itself is missing. I intend to replace it soon.

I saw those 3pt drawbars at the MF dealer in Chico. I plan to get one of those also. My concern is the unbalanced loads on the lower arms of the 3pt if I offset the drag disc hitch.

My initial idea was to use the swinging drawbar and some type of L-shaped adapter that would give me the offset I need. I would use a couple of bolts on the drawbar bracket to limit the amount of swing.

I used to pull my first hay baler and also a 1-row corn picker with a wagon hitched to that off of the 3-point 7-hole drawbar to get enough offset to clear the tractor's wheels. That never loaded the lower links beyond their capabilities. (on my 150-same hitch as your 135)

I keep a couple 3/8" X 2-1/2" bolts in my drawbar bracket to hold the drawbar centered or offset as needed.
 
   / Offsetting a tandem drag disc
  • Thread Starter
#5  
Farmwithjunk said:
I used to pull my first hay baler and also a 1-row corn picker with a wagon hitched to that off of the 3-point 7-hole drawbar to get enough offset to clear the tractor's wheels. That never loaded the lower links beyond their capabilities. (on my 150-same hitch as your 135)

I keep a couple 3/8" X 2-1/2" bolts in my drawbar bracket to hold the drawbar centered or offset as needed.

That's good to know. It's a simple, slick solution. I'll try that setup first when I get ready to do some serious discing. Thanks again for the info.
 
   / Offsetting a tandem drag disc #6  
Why don't you just adjust the rims in on your 135?
Does it have the standard rims or the PAVT rims that spin the wheels in or out. If it's got the PAVT it's about a 10 minute job total to move the rears in and jack up the front and move it in.
 
   / Offsetting a tandem drag disc #7  
Birdhunter1 said:
Why don't you just adjust the rims in on your 135?
Does it have the standard rims or the PAVT rims that spin the wheels in or out. If it's got the PAVT it's about a 10 minute job total to move the rears in and jack up the front and move it in.

You need to see a rear view of his tractor. It was an orchard tractor. HUGE, wide tires. I believe they're "in" as far as they'll go and still he has a wide tractor.
 
   / Offsetting a tandem drag disc #8  
That would be why he can't bring them in.

Farmwithjunk, do you want to sell your 150 yet?
 
   / Offsetting a tandem drag disc #9  
Birdhunter1 said:
That would be why he can't bring them in.

Farmwithjunk, do you want to sell your 150 yet?

No plans on selling it as long as I'm still breathing. My 2440 Deere gets moved over to my sons place on monday. He needs it and I don't any more. I'm trying to find a decent 165 Massey. When I do, the 3000 Ford may go away.

I'm on vacation for the next couple weeks. The 150 will finally get a "class A" paint job probably starting on monday or tuesday. I've got all sorts of new parts out in the shop. I'm replacing the rubber headlight mounts, fan belt and hoses, got a new steering wheel center cap. Found the correct O.E.M. top link. New tie-rod ends. I'm doing new brake shoes while I've got the wheels off. I'm even kicking around the idea of replacing the rear tires. Just put new fronts on a couple months back. She'll be "parade ready" after all of this.
 
   / Offsetting a tandem drag disc
  • Thread Starter
#10  
Birdhunter1 said:
That would be why he can't bring them in.

Farmwithjunk, do you want to sell your 150 yet?

Here's my rear tire setup. Someone remarked that they look like the front tires from an MF combine.
 

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